Navruz

Navruz

 Navruz 21 March

The celebration of Navruz in Tajikistan is an incredible eyeful
in its beauty. On these festive days, spring comes entirely
to the ancient Tajik land and it may be finally seen in its
fine splendor.

The caressing sun cherishes the mountain peaks and lucid snowdrops fight their
way through slobber. These first spring florets are the main harbingers of the
festival. Traditionally, village children give them out as a symbol of the beginning
of spring.
Tajikistan prepares for Navruz in advance, first of all, spiritually: by paying debts
and forgiving old insults. This day of the holiday, people put on clean clothing,
symbolizing a complete expurgation. Rituals with fire dating back to Zoroastrian
roots of the holiday are obligatory this day. All household should come
round a bonfire or torch alight in the sign of good hope against the best.
By lunchtime, hosts invite guests to the festive table, served with the dishes traditional
for Navruz holiday: sumanak (concoction from wheat sprouts), sambusa (sausage
roll from puff-paste or rissole with greens), sabzi (vegetables) and so on. All in all,
there should be seven ritual dishes beginning with “S”.
Navruz is widely celebrated both in cities and villages. This day everybody goes to
the main square to watch festive shows participated with singers, dancers and
musicians. It is impossible to imagine the celebration of Navruz in villages without
horserace, national sports contests, cockfighting, flying the kites and pigeons, and
traditional goat snatching (buzkhkasi).